WARREN, Mich. – The family of 48-year-old Remeious Washington came together Friday evening for a vigil after he was killed in a crash during a Warren police chase early Thursday morning.
It was a night relatives said was supposed to be a family Juneteenth celebration that he was helping to plan.
Washington’s sisters, Shachetra Washington and Khadijah Caldwell, said they’re still trying to process the loss of their brother, who they described as the heart of their family.
“He’s supposed to be here, and it’s just unreal. I still feel like I’m waiting on him to get here,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell said Washington was known for taking care of others, calling himself selfless when it came to those he cared about.
“He would want to do something, and he’d say, ‘Come go to this concert with me, you didn’t have to have anything,’” Caldwell said. ”He bought the ticket already. That’s how he was.”
Washington was killed just before 2 a.m. Thursday (June 18) at 8 Mile Road and Schoenherr Road, when a fleeing vehicle involved in a police pursuit ran a red light and t-boned his car as he pulled over for sirens, according to Warren police.
Investigators have said five juveniles were in the vehicle.
Four were arrested after running from the crash, and police believe the group is connected to at least 15 vehicle-related crimes reported in Warren in the two days before the crash.
Washington’s family said the youngest in the vehicle was 11 years old.
“I have a 9-year-old son. So for an 11-year-old to be in that car, they could’ve lost their lives,” Caldwell said.
As loved ones remembered Washington as a son, brother, and uncle, Shachetra Washington said she’ll miss his smile and the way he greeted people.
“His favorite saying was ‘Hello world,’ so we’re just going to miss everything about him,” Washington said.
Washington and Caldwell said three of the juveniles who were arrested were arraigned Friday and are expected back in court next week.
Police have not announced an arrest of the fifth juvenile.